White House lawn rocks as Easter eggs roll

The first family addresses the crowd as the Easter egg roll kicks off Monday.

By Halimah Abdullah

Updated 4/9 at 11:17 a.m. ET

For the kiddie set, it is the hottest ticket in Washington.

The 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll kicked off Monday, as more than 30,000 people from across the nation swarmed the sprawling south lawn of the White House to look for colored eggs and bop to kid beats. In keeping with First Lady Michelle Obama’s crusade to curb childhood obesity, this year’s theme is “Let’s Go. Let’s Move. Let’s Play.”

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

The president helps a young participant roll an egg.

The lucky families who scored tickets to the White House to celebrate the season with the first family did just that.

Parents staked their spots shortly after sunrise, in lines that reached from the White House to the Ellipse. Kids decked out in pastel-hued Easter finery darted across the lush green lawn, rolling eggs with wooden spoons.

"My job is simple," President Barack Obama said. "To introduce the powerhouse of the White House, the one who is really in charge, as Sasha, Malia and Bo already know."

The first lady is the event's official hostess. She and her daughters all wore the colors of the fashion season: Bright jeggings and tops.

TODAY

Al Roker joined a cast of characters Monday at the White House Easter egg roll.

"Hope you got on some comfortable shoes," the first lady said, holding up her foot. "We got ours on all of the Obamas here."

Later, the president coaxed a toddler who struggled to get her egg across the finish line with a "c'mon, baby." He high-fived another little boy for accomplishing the feat.

The president read "Where the Wild Things Are" to the assembled tots. "You guys were excellent wild things," he said. "I'm very proud of you. One more roar!" And the kids roared.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

The action gets underway on the south lawn.

The Easter egg roll is the largest public event the White House stages each year. 14,500 hard-boiled, dyed eggs are used. Kids 13 and under get a souvenir wooden White House Easter egg with the stamped signature of the president and first lady.

Olympic medalists Dominique Dawes and Michelle Kwan and "The Biggest Loser" coach Bob Harper, among others, were on the lawn to lead kids in sports-based exercises aimed at showing fun ways to stay fit.

There was even a yoga garden for kids to get their om on.

Cody Simpson and Rachel Crow were on hand to perform, joining a host of characters including Elmo, Dora the Explorer, Charlie Brown and Snoopy and, of course, the Easter bunny.